Lysol® Continues Celebrating the Unsung Heroes of Sports: The Referees
For year two, Lysol and Alex Rodriguez team up to educate sports officials on the power of Lysol® Laundry Sanitizer
PARSIPPANY, N.J., MARCH 27, 2025 – From intense action on the field alongside players to tough scrutiny from parents and fans, the role referees and umpires play is often overlooked – and it doesn’t stop when the final whistle blows, as they travel from one game to the next. That’s why Lysol®, a Reckitt brand, is on a mission to champion sports officials and help them tackle stink-filled laundry in between games with Lysol Laundry Sanitizer.
With baseball season officially in swing, Lysol has teamed up for a second year with Alex Rodriguez to recognize these key figures in sports. In “An Ode-r to Refs,” Rodriguez looks to make amends with an umpire from his past and share the secret to beating the stink in post-game uniforms – Lysol Laundry Sanitizer, a laundry additive that gets to the root of stink by killing 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria* when added to your laundry routine.
“Referees and umpires are an irreplaceable part of baseball, and their role extends way beyond the nine innings of a game,” said Rodriguez. “I’m teaming up with Lysol to show appreciation for the work officials do on and off the field, from youth sports to the major leagues, and help make one part of their job easier – tackling post-game stink in laundry with Lysol Laundry Sanitizer.”
Whether it’s umpires calling plays in the heat under layers of clothing or referees running alongside players, sports officials know a thing or two about sweat – in fact, the average soccer referee alone runs seven miles per game**. After an action-packed game on the field and behind the plate, those sweat-filled uniforms are full of odor-causing bacteria that lead to some serious stink in laundry.
“For both players and referees, sweating is inevitable – but what many people don’t realize is that bacteria can be source of stink in laundry,” said Callum Couser, R&D Operations Manager North America, Hygiene at Reckitt.
quote icon“Lysol Laundry Sanitizer kills 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria* in post-game laundry so officials, players and families’ clothing can smell fresh throughout the season.”
Callum Couser R&D Operations Manager North America, Hygiene at Reckitt
In support of officials nationwide, Lysol is encouraging players, coaches and parents to share a story of appreciation for a referee or umpire in their life and nominate them to win Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to tackle the stink in post-game laundry. Visit lysolstrikeoutstink.com to submit an entry, with one grand prize winner receiving a special in-person delivery of Lysol Laundry Sanitizer straight to their next practice or game.†
To watch “An Ode-r to Refs,” visit Lysol's official YouTube and Instagram pages. You can find Lysol Laundry Sanitizer at major retailers and learn more by visiting www.Lysol.com.
*When used as directed.
**Officials Activities During Matches, 2/15/2013, Valter Di Salvo, Michael R Carmont, and Nicola Maffulli
†NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents U.S. and D.C., 18+ and meets the eligibility criteria. Ends 10:00 p.m. E.T. 04/17/25. Void where prohibited. For Official Rules and to apply: https://fooji.info/LysolStrikeOutStink. Sponsor: Reckitt Benckiser LLC